Help me pick a new elk rifle caliber.

Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Messages
1,135
Location
Texas
If you reload let me throw some fun rounds in the hat:
1. 300 H&H. It'll get a 180 grain Barnes over the 3k fps mark no sweat. It's a classic round, with recoil that's a little more push than punch.
2. 30-06AI. This is what I use, and while the 06 isn't the best cartridge to give the Ackley treatment, I get to add a hundred or two fps to my preferred 168 grain Barnes TTSX. I've not played with heavier bullets, but that is where the AI treatment supposedly gives the most benfit. It's also a mule deer hammer with 165 gr Hornady SST's.
 
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thinhorn_AK

"DADDY"
Joined
Jul 2, 2016
Messages
10,308
Location
Alaska
Lampers and Call use the 6.5 PRC. Seems like them are sweet rifles. They shoot the Weatherby backcountry TI which is titanium...... expect to drop like $2500 on it tho. They weigh just under 5 pounds. Amazing rifles... someday... someday....

who?
 

TBass

FNG
Joined
Oct 15, 2019
Messages
45
So the 6.5 PRC has a little bit less giddy up than the 6.5 SAUM's... but for the sake of this topic I think that they are close enough for comparison. I (personally) would have no issues shooting elk out to 500 or so with the 6.5 PRC. I downed this elk w/ a single shot at at 557 yards w/ the 6.5 SAUM's (thanks GA Precision) and it took less than 10 steps. Although the 30 calibers may be more forgiving when it comes to shot placement, I find that I shoot the 6.5 caliber far better because of the lack of recoil and that I have more confidence in it than the heavier recoiling 30 cals because it's a lot more fun to shoot.IMG_3697 (1).jpg
 

Cxs03g

FNG
Joined
May 24, 2020
Messages
57
Would you guys put 300 wsm and 300 wby in the same class at, say, 500-600 yards?
 
Joined
May 22, 2020
Messages
39
Looking at picking up a new lightweight mtn rifle. Currently have a 6.5 creed mesa, 300wm (10 lbs set up) and 30-06 (wood blued family gun i don't wanna hunt with). Would like something good out to 600 yards for elk and punching steel a little further. Thinking 7mm mag or maybe 6.5 prc (not sure about performance on elk out to that range). Would also prefer to not double up on calibers. What do you guys suggest?
.280 Ackley Improved my friend
 

sndmn11

WKR
Joined
Mar 28, 2017
Messages
9,086
Location
Morrison, Colorado
Joe loves the ‘knock down power’ of this rifle almost as much as he loves sniffing hair!!

He is sniffing scalp, there is a big difference. Hair is anywhere and he doesn't degrade himself sniffing mustaches or armpits. It's that pristine protected from the hair SCALP that is what the pros are after.

I'd spend the money on ammo and range time.
 

Hogkane

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 19, 2020
Messages
118
I would like to see someone with the new Weatherby Backcountry Ti 280 AI.

That would be my choice for a new elk rifle.

I think the 6.5 is adequate but not optimal. 7mm and 30 cal are optimal.

>>>----JAKE----->

"I think the 6.5 is adequate but not optimal. 7mm and 30 cal are optimal." This is spot on👍
 

S7even

FNG
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Messages
46
Location
Idaho
I have no experience with either caliber, but a lot of people like there 28 noslers and 280 ai for elk.
 
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Messages
413
I would like to see someone with the new Weatherby Backcountry Ti 280 AI.

That would be my choice for a new elk rifle.

I think the 6.5 is adequate but not optimal. 7mm and 30 cal are optimal.

>>>----JAKE----->

I would have gotten this if they made non magnums in lefty. What a disappointment as I love the Weatherby rifle and that is a sweet one to hold. I ended up with a 7mm rem mag cooper 95 instead bc they had lefty and am happy, but boy it would have been the Weatherby.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Apr 16, 2021
Messages
15
Looking at picking up a new lightweight mtn rifle. Currently have a 6.5 creed mesa, 300wm (10 lbs set up) and 30-06 (wood blued family gun i don't wanna hunt with). Would like something good out to 600 yards for elk and punching steel a little further. Thinking 7mm mag or maybe 6.5 prc (not sure about performance on elk out to that range). Would also prefer to not double up on calibers. What do you guys suggest?
Cant go wrong with a 7mm or a 30-06. Both are more than capable for 600 yards. It’s whatever you are most comfortable with
 

mvrk28

WKR
Joined
Mar 13, 2018
Messages
309
Location
CA
Just my 2 cents, I inherited my dad's 30-06 and still bought a 280 AI, here's my reasoning.

With a similar bullet, let's say the Nosler Accubond, you will get more BC with less weight out of the 7mm than you will the .308". In the 280 you could realistically see speeds over 3100 fps with a BC of .493 out of the 150 gr Accubond. That's a dead bull, every time.

In the 30-06 the 150 gr bullet has significantly lower BC, if you go up in weight to bring up the BC, your velocity will drop and even with a .308" 165 gr accubond, you still have a lower BC than the 7mm 150 gr accubond. IMO the 280 AI is the winner here but both are going to kill whatever you aim them at.
 

300 win mag

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 17, 2020
Messages
109
taking into account all circumstances that could arise,i believe that elk rifles start at a 30 caliber magnum.
 
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